Campers play ga-ga at the Sherman Lake YMCA. The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo received a $95,000 grant from the MDCH as part of a pilot program to increase youth physical activity.MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette file

KALAMAZOO, MI
– The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is one of 10 agencies chosen by the Michigan
Department of Community Health (MDCH) to participate in a pilot program
battling childhood obesity.

The Y received a $95,000 grant from
the MDCH Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity Section to
increase physical activity and healthy eating through after-school and summer
programs, part of $915,000 in grants given by the MDCH.

The pilot program aligns with strategies outlined in the Michigan
Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Plan, which contains Michigan's priorities for
obesity prevention over the next five years, the MDCH said in a press release.

The Y offers
PRIME TIME before- and after-school programming at seven elementary buildings
in Kalamazoo Public Schools, with plans to open an eighth site before Jan. 1.
With funding from the grant, the PRIME TIME program will provide 60 minutes of
physical activity daily, as well as nutrition education.

The grant also
will provide resources for summer youth programs, aiming to keep kids moving year-round, and addressing the growing problem of childhood
obesity, which affects more than one-third of Michigan's children.

"Obesity
prevention for kids is a priority for the YMCA. Being able to expand
before/after school and summer programming to assist in youth developing the
foundation and education to live a healthy lifestyle for life is very important
for the success and health of our future leaders," said Steven D. Springsdorf,
YMCA president and chief executive officer, in a statement.

Childhood
obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Obesity now affects 17 percent of children and
adolescents - triple the rate from just one generation ago. What's even more
troubling is that today's children may be the first in history to live shorter,
less healthy lives than their parents due to being overweight and obese,"
said James K. Haveman, director of the MDCH, in a statement. "I commend
these agencies for their dedication to working with children and look forward
to watching their progress as we work together to reduce childhood
obesity."

Overweight or
obese youth have a higher likelihood of being obese throughout their adulthood,
an expert said.

"Children who are obese after the age of 6 are 50 percent
more likely to be obese as adults," said Dr. Dean Sienko, interim chief
medical executive at the MDCH. "We must work with children in a variety of
settings to improve healthy behaviors. Getting them on a healthy path early in
life is critical to helping them shape a healthy future."

In addition to the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, other grant
recipients included: